Skeleton vehicle wheel



May 12, 1935. Q 5 A 2,040,541

SKELETON VEHICLE WHEEL Filed May 8, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ChZiMes swan ATTORNEY ZGQQSM May 312, 193%, c. s. ASH

SKELETON VEHICLE WHEEL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed May 8, 1929 l NVEN TOR UMP/65 5 /46/i ATTORNEY H s A S C SKELETON VEHICLE WHEEL Filed May 8, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 @mWw I. flfllll plflli ATTORNEY C. S. ASH

' SKELETON VEHICLE WHEEL Filed May. 8, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 M/ Y RH m5 m N. T ms an E P/ 0 Y W Patented May 12, 1936 g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SKELETON VEHICLE WHEEL Charles S. Ash, Royal Oak, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Kelsey-Hayes Wheel Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application May 8, 1929, Serial No. 361,317 4 Claims. (01. 30155) This invention relates to a motor-vehicle wheel Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of a wheel construction, and its object is to provide a wire illustrating a modified construction; wheel of the demountable at the hub type in Fig. 4 is a vertical section through Fig. 3;

which the usual outer hub is dispensed with and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of a modified form of 5 the arrangement and construction is such that the mounting member; "5 all of the wheels are interchangeable and either Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of a hub portion of a wood or disk wheels may be substituted therefor wheel showing a further modified construction; and mounted upon the same hub or hubs. Fig. '7 is an end elevation of Fig. 6 with the end A further object is to provide a wire wheel of cap removed; the demountable at the hub type wherein the Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a portion of a wheel 10 mounting means carried by the wheel replaces the embodying a further modified construction and ordinary outer hub to secure the wheel in place showing parts broken away and in section;

and when so secured, becomes a rigid structure, Fig. 9 is a vertical section through Fig. 8; said securing means taking the load, driving and Fig. 10 is a detail of the spoke ends and the braking strains. manner in which they are seated in a rim; 15

A further object is to provide a wire wheel struc- Fig. 11 is a detail of a modified construction of ture of the bolted-on type which presents the the mounting member showing the same in side appearance of a wheel having a large outer hub elevation and a connecting ring in section; and without the necessity for such a hub shell into Fig. 12 is an end elevation of Fig. 11 with the which to connect the spokes, and the means to spokes omitted; 20 receive the bolts also serves as means to which Fig. 13 is avertical longitudinal section through the spokes are attached, said means comprising a wheel illustrative of a further modified conmembers for spaced mounting and for the attachstruction;

ment to each, of a group of spokes, either as com- Fig. 14 is a detail of a mounting member of the pression or tension members or both. wheel shown in Fig. 13 and showing said member 2 It is also an object to provide a construction in end elevation; wherein a shield excludes the dirt, forms a fin- Fig. 15 is an end elevation of a portion of a ish for the central portion of the wheel, concealwheel and hub illustrative of a further modificaing the wheel attaching means, and serves to position tion the spokes in assembling the wheel. A fur- Fig. 16 is a vertical longitudinal section through 30 ther object is to provide, in connection with a Fig. 15; series of concentrically arranged attaching or Fig. 17 is an elevation of a mounting member mounting members, a spoke arrangement whereshown in Figs. 15 and 16 and illustrative of the by a tension or compression or a combined tenmanner in which spokes are welded in connecsion and compression wheel may be erected, the tion therewith;

lacing and securing of the spokes in place facili- Fig. 18 is a section similar to that of Fig. 16 tated and the construction simplified and cost of and showing a slightly modified construction; manufacture reduced. Fig. 19 is a detail view of the mounting mem- It is also an object to provide certain other new ber shown in Fig. 18 and illustrative of the manand useful features in the combination, construcner in which spokes are connected to said memtion and arrangement, all as hereinafter more b r;

fully set forth. Fig. 20 is an end elevation of Fig. 19.

With the above and other ends in view, the in- Wire wheels as ordinarily constructed are provention consists in the matters hereinafter set vided with a hub shell or what is known as an outforth and more particularly pointed out in the er hub which is adapted to fit over the inner hub appended claims, reference being had to the 9.0- or the hub which is mounted upon the axle or companying drawings, in which:- stub shaft of the axle, the spokes of the wheel Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wheel illustrabeing laced into the hub shell for connecting the tive of an embodiment of the present invention, rim thereto, and suitable means is provided for portions of the figure being broken away to resecuring the hub shell in place upon the inner 50 duce the area of the figure and disclose parts of hub detachably, so that the wheel including the the construction; rim and shell with connecting wire spokes, may Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the upper be readily demounted, as a whole, from the inner half of Fig. 1, the lower portion being partially or permanent hub. The hub shell of such a in l ti n; wheel, according to the usual practice, is detachably secured in place either by a hub cap or outer member for engaging the end of the shell or by bolting the shell by means of a series of bolts to an outstanding flange on the inner hub.

In the several constructions as shown in the accompanying drawings, the outer shell or hub is dispensed with and a series of mounting members is provided for mounting the wheel which includes these mounting members, a rim and spokes connecting the members and rim, the mounting members forming a zone of detachable attachment of the wheel to the hub and also providing places of anchorage for the inner ends of the spokes, these spokes being arranged in groups with each group connected to a single mounting member. The wheel proper or demountable structure is therefore devoid of a hub and this wheel structure does not become a wheel in the sense that it is of suflicient rigidity to take load strains, until after it is secured in operative position upon the axle hub.

In Figs. 1 and'2 of the drawings a construction is shown wherein I indicates a hub of any suitable form and construction adapted to be secured to the end of the axle drive shaft 2 for imparting rotation to the wheel, or this hub may be of the usual construction for mounting upon the pivoted stubof the front'axle of .a motor vehicle. In either case, the hub will be provided with an outstanding flange 3 which is usually provided for the attachment thereto of a brake drum 4. In the present instance this flange 3 forms a support or place of attachment for the demountable'wire wheel which wheel includes a rim 5 of any suitable form or construction for the mounting thereon of the usual tire.

A series of tubular mounting members 6 is provided, said members being arranged in spaced apart relation around the axis of the hub concentric therewith and the spokes I forming the web of the wheel are arranged in groups, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each group consisting of four spokes connected at their inner ends to one of the mounting members 6 and extending radially outward therefrom and connected to the rim 5 at their outer ends. The spokes'of each group as shown in the construction depicted in Figs. 1 and 2, are preferably welded at their inner ends to the outer cylindrical surface of one of the tubular mounting members 6 and extend outwardly therefrom toward the rim in divergent relation,

two spokes of the group beingwelded to the mounting member adjacent one end and the other two spokes of the group being welded to said member adjacent its opposite end with the spokes at one end crossing those at the other end and welded at their outer ends to the rim, thus bracing the wheel against lateral strains and the driving and load strains are taken by these spokes by so arranging them that the spokes projecting from each side of the mounting members will cross two of the spokes of an adjacent group.

With this arrangement of the spokes, each spoke should be of a size and strength to take strains in both compression and tension and when .sowelded' in connection between the mounting members and rim, said spokes will serve to hold these mounting members in position so that this skeleton wheel may be readily mounted in operative position upon the mounting flange 3 of the hub or other inner member for rotation upon the axle. This skeleton wheel, when demounted, has but little rigidity and practically no load carrying strength, due to the fact that this demountable structure is lacking any rigid continuous inner member to which the spokes are attached at their inner ends, but when said skeleton wheel is mounted securely in place upon the axle hub or other suitable support, it becomes a very strong and rigid wheel adapted to withstand driving, load and braking strains, and to so detachably secure this skeleton wheel in operative position, the flange 3 is provided with a series of bolts 8 adapted to extend through the tubular mounting members 6, and as shown in Fig. 2, the ends of each mounting member are beveled or tapered, as at 9, to engage a seat formed in the flange 3 around the opening for the bolts 8 to fit one end of the mounting member 6, and slipped over the outer end of the hub I is a shield l0 which is provided with a series of openings through which the outer ends of the bolts 8 extend. The shield l0 fits over and rests upon an outstanding annular flange l I on the hub formed to fit closely within the shield to form a support therefor so that when the nuts l2 are applied to the bolts .8 and turned up firmly against the shield III, the outer ends of the several mounting members 6 are supported by the engagement of the tapered end 6 of each member with a suitable seat formed in the shield ID. The several mounting members 6 are therefore rigidly and detachably secured between the flange 3 and the shield l0 and accurately positioned thereby.

The skeleton wheel may be quickly detached by unscrewing the cap l3 from connection with the outer end of the shield Ill, removing the nuts l2 and then slipping the shield from engagement with the bolts, the skeleton wheel being thus released so that it may be readily withdrawn from engagement with the securing bolts l2. In mounting the wheel, the skeleton Wheel is guided into place so that the bolts 8 will readily enter and pass through the several mounting members, by providing an inner flange 14 secured to the flange 3,.and extending outwardly therefrom and just within the circle of the several mounting members 6. The skeleton wheel including the rim and the series of tubular mounting members 6 with the'spokes connecting said members and rim, may therefore be readily positioned in mounting the wheel with the mounting members engaged over the bolts 8, the flange l4 forming a guide for these mounting members in placing the skeleton wheel in operative connection with the axle hub by sleeving the mounting members 6 over the several bolts 8, said flange also forming a shield or finish and may be so arranged as to take driving and braking strains.

In Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings a modification of the construction is shown, this modification consisting principally in the construction of the mounting members and in the lacing of the spokes. As in the above described construction, any suitable form of axle hub I5 is provided, said hub being formed with an outstanding radial flange l6 for the attachment of the skeleton wheel thereto, said wheel comprising a rim l1 and spokes connecting the rim with the series of spaced apart mounting members, each mounting member comprising two sleeves l8 each having an enlarged or cup-shaped outer end portion and an inner end portion of a diameter to fit the mounting or securing bolts l9 which are secured in the openings in the flange l6 and extend laterally therefrom.

Each bolt intermediate its ends is formed with a portion of greater diameter forming shoulders 20 against which the inner ends of the sleeves I8 the mounting member to which they are attached by being threaded through openingsin the sleeves N3 of said members, and, therefore, there are two spokes which extend radially outward from each mounting member and two other pairs of spokes extending in opposite directions fromthe member and exerting a pull thereon in=opposite directions. The wheel mounting-members l8 are thus suspended, the spokes being placed under tension in the assembly of the wheel to hold each mounting member in a fixedposition. By threading thespokes through the enlarged or cupped ends of the sleeves l8,. these spokes of each pair may be readily positioned in the wheel crossing each other and thusbracing the wheel against lateral strains. The cupped or enlarged endlof the inner sleeve seats within a seat or depression in the flange 16 and thus when the wheel is mounted and the bolt 19 turned up, each of the mounting members is drawn into firm contact with the flange and is rigidly'attached thereto and supported thereby, the mounting members taking the'drivingload and braking strains.

To form a finish for the central portion of the wheel, when in mounted position, and, to keep out the dust and dirt which would otherwise collect around themounting members, a thin sheet metal annular shield 24 is provided, this shield being formed with openings through which the spokes extend,- said spokes being threaded through these openings in the shield during the assembling of the wheel, and thus said shield also provides means for positioning and holding the several spokes during assembly. A large hub cap or disk 25 is also provided, said cap being formed with a series of openings through which the outer ends of the bolts l9 extend so that when the nuts 26 are applied to the outer ends of these bolts, the cap will be drawn into firm contact with the outer ends of the severalmounting members and close the outer end of the shield 24. When mounted, the wheel therefore has the appearance of a wire wheel as ordinarily constructed having a large hub, the shield 24 and cap 25 giving this appearance to the wheeland also excluding the mud and dirt from the central portion of the wheel.

In Fig. 5 is shown a construction of hub mounting member similar to that shown in Fig. 4 but slightly modified so that the two sleeves IB may be adjusted toward and from each other in order to spread the inner ends of the spokes apart and thereby put these spokes under tension. To effect such adjustment a-tubular member 21 is sleeved upon the bolt [9 with an end portion of this tubular member engaging the end of the outer sleeve 18 and with said member internally screw-threaded to engage an external screw thread formed on the opposite or inner sleeve IS, the inner end of which sleeve abuts the collar or enlarged portion 20 formed on the bolt. By turning the tubular member 21 relative to the sleeve with whichit is in screw-threaded engagement, said tubular member is adjusted longitudinally of the bolt and toward the opposite or outer sleeve l8, thus spreading the sleeves apart longitudinally of the bolt and placing the spokes under tension.

In theconstructions shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the mounting members are in the form of a single tube 28 the ends of which are flared or expanded so that, the several spokes may be threaded through openings in the expanded ends of this sleeve. The inner end of each sleeve 28 seats against the side of the flange 3 or the surface of the drum wall 4 secured thereto and is held in place by a bolt 29 secured at one end within. an opening in the flange and passing through the sleeve 28, its outer end being reduced in diameter and screw-threaded to receive a nut 30 having a tapered inner end to seat within the flared end of the sleeve 28 so that when the nut is turned up onthe bolt it seats firmly within the end of the tube or mounting member and forces this memberinto firm end seating contact with the hub flange which forms the sole support and place of attachment for the several mounting members. If found desirable, this construction may alsobe provided with an annular shell 3! similar to the shell 24 and a cap 32 may be provided to screw upon the outer end of the hub I and into engagement with the several nuts 33 with the periphery of the cap extending over the edge-of the shield 3 I. The central portion of the wheel is thus shielded against dust and dirt, the shield 3| forming positioning means for the spokes-in the assembly of the wheel, and the cap 32 serving to close the outer end of the shield and also-to form a lock for the nuts 33 which holdthe mounting members in place upon the bolts.

In Figs. 8 and 9 a further modified construction of wheel is shown, the arrangement of the spokes being such as to provide a suspension wheel. As in the other constructions, any suitable form of hub I having an outstanding flange 3 may be provided, said flange forming a support for a series of bolts 33 which are firmly anchored at one end within openings in the flange 3 and extend horizontally therefrom parallel with the axis of rotation of the wheel. The skeleton wheel structure which comprises the rim "connected byspokes with the several mounting members each of which is in the form of a cylindrical sleeve 34 adapted to fit over or be sleeved upon the bolts 33, each sleeve 34 being formed with end portions enlarged in diameter and formed with external seats 35 for the intermediate portions of the wire spokes 36 each of which is connected in anysuitable manner at both of its ends to the wheel rim. The several spokes are therefore of the hair-pin type, that is, they have a hearing or portion intermediate their ends which engages over or beneath the several mounting members, according to the position in which their outer ends are connected to the rim relative to the position of the mounting member. Two of these continuous spokes engage each end of the mounting members, one spoke passing beneath said end and the other over it and therefore each end of each mounting member is suspended by a pair of spokes from the wheel rim, and to give to the wheel lateral rigidity, the outer ends of these spokes are crossed transversely of the Wheel, the spokes taking the load driving and braking strains byarranging them with one spoke at each end of the mounting member extended beneath the mounting member and attached'at its ends to the rim outwardly of the Wheel from said member and the other spoke of the pair being extended over the mounting member with its ends attached to the rim of the wheel inwardly in a horizontal planepassing through the axis of the mounting member, the several spokes engaging the several mounting members being interlaced and arranged to cross one another so that all spokes are under tension.

Their interlacing is such that the outer ends of certain spokes of one group meet the ends of the same spokes of another group and therefore these meeting ends may be passed through a sin gle opening in the rim of the wheel, as shown at 31, and these ends upset within a depression in the rim. at said opening, each head 38 thus formed on the end of each spoke filling one half of the depression, as shown in Fig. 10. This construction of wheel may also be provided with a flared annular shield similar to the shield 24 and through openings in which the several spokes ex-' tend, the shield excluding the mud and dirt from the hub portion of the wheel when in operative position, and mounted upon the end of the axle hub is a cap similar to the cap 25 which is provided with openings through which the outer ends of the bolts 33 project, to be engaged by the nuts on the ends of the bolts, which thus hold the cap firmly in place and the several mounting members sleeved upon the bolts. If found desirable, lugs 39 may be provided on the hub to engage notches in the cap 25 and prevent relative rotation between hub and cap, thus accurately locating the openings in the cap relative to the bolts 33 so that the wheel may be quickly mounted.

In Fig. 11 the mounting member or sleeve 34 is shown in detail, said sleeve being modified in its construction in that the several sleeves of the mounting are rigidly connected together by an integral ring 40 which is concentric with the axis of the rotation of the wheel and assists in the mounting of the wheel upon the stud bolts 33.

In Fig. 13 a further modified construction is shown in the form of several mounting members, the construction of these mounting members being such as to greatly simplify the construction of the wheel. As before, these several spacedapart mounting members are mounted upon bolts 4| rigidly anchored at one end to the outstanding flange 3 on the hub I, each mounting member comprising a strip of metal of segmental form in cross section, as at 42, and having downturned end ears 43 provided with openings through which the bolts 4| extend. The several spokes 44 which may be arranged in any suitable manner, are preferably welded at their inner ends to the segmental portion 42 of the mounting members and extend radially outward therefrom. As in the construction shown in Fig. 2, a cap or shield member ID fits over a flange H on the hub and is provided with a series of openings through which the several bolts 4| extend with the nuts on the outer ends of the bolts engaging the cap and securely holding it in firm contact with the outer ends of the several mounting members. The cap thus serves to assist in supporting the outer ends of the bolts 4| and at the same time hold the mounting members in place upon the bolts and the wheel rigidly mounted in operative position.

In Figs. and 16 a construction of wheel is shown which is quite similar to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the main difierence being in that the mounting membersinstead of being of tubular form, are formed from solid stock,

each comprising a cylindrical length of rod, as 1 hub. The hub is also formed with a series of seats 56 within which the several mounting members 52 seat at their inner sides. When the cap 55 is secured upon the end of the hub it forces the skeleton wheel toward the flange 3 and brings the inner ends of the mounting members 52 into firm end seating engagement with their seats on said flange, and also into firm seating engagement with the seats 56, the tapered ends of the several mounting members engaging the tapered seats in the flange and cap serving to draw inwardly on the spokes 1, the outer ends of which are rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the wheel rim (not shown). If found desirable, this construction may be provided with an annular shield similar to the shield 24 and for the same purpose.

To facilitate the welding of the inner ends of the spokes to the mounting members 52, each of said cylindrical mounting members is bored inwardly from each end, as at 58, and openings 59 are formed laterally in these members to receive the ends of the spokes. Other openings 60 form vents for the inner ends of the bores 53 so that when the ends of the spokes are inserted in the openings 59 and are welded therein by an electric welding operation and pressure, the flash formed at the inner abutting ends of the spokes is received in the bores 58 and remains therein, the gases passing oil through the openings 60 and the outer open ends of the bores 58. It is therefore unnecessary to remove the flash and as this flash remains within the bore on the ends of the spokes, it assists in securely holding the spokes in place. This particular construction of mounting members is illustrated in the detail shown in Fig. 17.

The construction shown in Fig. 18 is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 16, the principal difference consisting in the manner in which the inner ends of the spokes are secured to the mounting members and in the direction in which these spokes extend outwardly from the several mounting members. The mounting member 6| shown in Figs. 18, 19, and consists of a single body tapered at its ends, but instead of being bored axially, as in the construction shown in Fig 16, it is formed with transverse openings to receive the ends of the spokes, said openings 62 extending completely through the cylinder and the ends of the spokes being riveted down at the opposite side from that at which they are entered. These openings are 'so arranged in' staggered relation that the spokes will extend into. proper outwardly divergent relation for proper connection to the rim to give the desired support thereto.

As in Fig. 16, a cap 63 is secured upon the end of the hub and engages the outer tapered ends of the members 6|. also be provided, said shield being similar to the shield shown in Fig. 6 and provided with openings through which the several spokes are An annular shield 64 may threaded. This shield 64 is modified from the construction shown in Fig. 6 in that it is of channel shape in cross section, the end flanges 65 being provided with openings to receive theseveral mounting members 6|.

Each of the several constructions shown in the drawings includes a rim connected to a plurality of mounting members by spokes, forming a hubless wheel for demountable mounting upon a permanent or non-demountable hub through the medium of said mounting members, whereby, when so mounted, said hubless, non-rigid wheel is made rigid and capable of withstanding load, driving and breaking strains in use. I do not, therefore, limit myself to structural details, but contemplate the inclusion, in combination, of the elements or their mechanical equivalents, as set forth in the appended claims, arranged to produce a hubless wheel of the character described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is:--

1. A wheel comprising a rim, a plurality of tubular mounting members extending substantially parallel with the wheel axis, each mounting member comprising a pair of tubular parts in axial alignment, spokes connecting said rim and mounting members, and bolts extending through said mounting members for securing the same to a hub member, said bolts being provided with shoulders intermediate their ends to engage the inner ends of said tubular parts of each mounting member.

2. A wheel comprising a rim, mounting members arranged in angular spaced relation and extending substantially parallel with the wheel axis, a group of spokes comprising front and rear spokes crossing axially of each other and connecting each mounting member with the rim, the spokes of each group being arranged in angular relation to hold said mounting members in substantially predetermined angular spaced relation, a hub member engageable with corresponding ends of the mounting members, common means engageable with the other ends of the mounting members for holding the same in fixed relation to each other, and means for detachably securing said mounting members upon the hub member.

3. A wheel, comprising a rim, a plurality of tubular mounting members extending substantially parallel with the wheel axis, each mounting member comprising a pair of tubular parts in axial alignment, spokes connecting said rim and mounting members, bolts extending through said mounting members for securing the same to a hub member, and cooperating means upon said bolts and tubular parts for positioning the tubular parts with respect to each other.

4. A wheel comprising a rim, a plurality of tubular mounting members extending substantially parallel with the wheel axis, each tubular mounting member comprising a pair of opposed tubular end portions, one of which is exteriorly screw-threaded and a sleeve interiorly screwthreaded to engage said exteriorly screw-threaded member and arranged to abut the end of the other tubular member, spokes connecting said rim and mounting members, and bolts extending through said mounting members for securing the same to a hub member, said bolts having enlarge- 35 ments inclosed by said sleeves.

CHARLES S. ASH. 

